Aqua Teen Hunger Force Volume 7 DVDReview

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More incoherence, less funny.

By Max Nicholson

It seems like Aqua Teen Hunger Force has been on the downhill for a while, and going on almost a decade now, it's hard to blame them. When considering the show's main characters are walking-talking fast-food items that primarily dick around the suburbs of New Jersey, it's actually quite admirable that it's gone on as long as it has.

With that in mind, Volume 7 delivers more of the usual fare with little new to offer. Most of the episodes this time around are lacking in laughs, even if the show's creators continue to churn out the reliably creative, if not completely estranged, storylines. The same postmodern humor that the fan base has grown to love is still there, it just doesn't pack the same punch that it used to.

The obvious standout episode here is "The Last One Forever and Ever," in which the episode's initial premise switches from a run-of-the-mill ATHF plot to a live-action interpretation of the show. H. Jon Benjamin (Home Movies, Archer) plays a pink-clad Master Shake who is shown to be writing the cartoon episode in question. T-Pain appears as Frylock, and Meatwad is also present in the form of a red, talking exercise ball who offers script advice to Shake. And of course, we get a cameo from the live-action Carl, portrayed by newcomer Dave Long Jr., who won the Carl look-alike contest in 2008. The episode is truly one of the most bizarre in the series to date, but it's a breath of fresh air for those who have been with the show for a while. Benjamin is always a pleasure to see, live-action or otherwise, and he really steals the episode.

The remaining episodes are take or leave. If you're a fan of the show, you'll surely enjoy some of the more noteworthy episodes like "Rubberman" or "2-and-a-Half Star Wars Out of Five," but newcomers should probably steer clear from this one, at least until they get a feel for some of the earlier installments.

Episodes included from this set are from Seasons 6 and 7 and aired from April of 2009 to February of 2010:

Creature from Plaque Lagoon

Time Machine

2-and-a-Half Star Wars Out of Five

Fry Legs

Der Inflatable Fuhrer

The Last One Forever and Ever

Rubberman

Multiple Meats

Monster

Rabbot Redux

Eggball

Score: 6 out of 10

Video and Presentation

Aqua Teen is known for its simple and often basic animation, so there's not too much to look into here. The colors are vibrant, and the picture is clear enough. There are no visible artifacts and the contrast is decent. The contour lines are visibly crisp, at least for DVD quality. Nothing to really complain about.

Score: 8 out of 10

Languages and Audio

The Dolby Surround Sound 5.1 audio is actually quite good for a show that doesn't require much audio mixing. The dialogue is very clear and the music is never blown out. The sound effects are sometimes low in quality, but that might be intentional for comedic effect. There are a few white noise issues in the live-action segments of "The Last One Forever and Ever," but expectations for production value here are not very high. Optional English subtitles are available, but nothing else. Decent audio overall.

Score: 7 out of 10

Extras and Packaging

The packaging for Volume 7 is your typical Aqua Teen standard: cardboard slipcase with DVD case inside. Special features include:

Live Action Behind the Scenes: The Making of Twelve Minutes of Television That Changed Television for Twelve Minutes

Rubberman Behind the Scenes: Your Mom and Uncle Sing About Condoms

Dumb Down Your Smart Phone

Terror Phone II: The Legend of Rakenstein

Live Action Carl: The Dave Long Story: Shave Your Head, Grow a Mustache and Gain 80lbs for a Shot at Fame

"Live Action Behind the Scenes" is probably the only special feature that's actually worth watching, and gives you a look at how the creators went about recreating the animated sets in real life. The other special features are mostly comprised of lengthy behind the scenes footage or other various mini-reels that are really not worth your time, especially the eight-plus minute look at all of the Carl audition tapes. Only watch those if you're feeling down on yourself.

Score: 4 out of 10

The Bottom Line

If you're an avid fan of the show, there's a decent amount to enjoy here. If you've been watching this long, chances are it's worth a watch, and if you're looking to round out your ATHF DVD collection, you might as well add this one to the shelves. But if you're only a casual fan of the show, don't collect the DVD's, or you've flat out never even seen it, this one's probably better off left alone.